Selectable Angle Needle Guide
A needle guide assembly for inserting a needle into the body of a patient in order to access a subcutaneous target, such as a vessel, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the needle guide assembly comprises a needle guide body that is configured to at least indirectly and removably attach to an image producing device, such as an ultrasound probe. The needle guide body defines at least first and second elongate guide channels. Each guide channel defines a unique insertion angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe. Further, each guide channel is configured to accept needles of differing gauges.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/426,297, filed Dec. 22, 2010, titled “Selectable Angle needle Guide,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/500,550, filed Jun. 23, 2011, titled “Needle Guide with Selectable Aspects,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BRIEF SUMMARYBriefly summarized, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a needle guide assembly for inserting a needle into the body of a patient in order to access a subcutaneous target, such as a vessel. In one embodiment, the needle guide assembly comprises a needle guide body that is configured to at least indirectly and removably attach to an image producing device, such as an ultrasound probe. The needle guide body defines at least first and second elongate guide channels. Each guide channel defines a unique insertion angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ultrasound probe. Further, each guide channel is configured to accept needles of differing gauges.
In addition, other needle guide assemblies are disclosed that include multiple guide channels for inserting a needle at a variety of insertion angles into the patient's body. Related methods are also disclosed.
These and other features of embodiments of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of embodiments of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
A more particular description of the present disclosure will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. Example embodiments of the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made to figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and are neither limiting nor necessarily drawn to scale. It is to be understood that the words “including,” “has,” and “having,” as used herein, including the claims, shall have the same meaning as the word “comprising.”
Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a needle guide assembly for guiding a needle or other elongate implement into a body of a patient. In one embodiment, the needle guide is removably attached in a direct or indirect manner to an ultrasound probe so as to enable insertion of the needle via the needle guide assembly while an intended subcutaneous target of the needle is being imaged by the ultrasound probe. Further, in one embodiment, the needle guide assembly includes multiple differently angled needle guide channels that are selectable by a user to enable the needle to be directed at a desired angle into the patient's body toward the subcutaneous target. Thus, the ability to direct a needle at a variety of angles with a single guide assembly is achieved.
As shown in the perspective shown in
Each of the front faces 22A-22C includes a concavely shaped contoured surface 24 that slopes toward an open proximal end 26A, 26B, 26C of the respective guide channel 20A-20C. The contoured surfaces 24 assist in guiding a needle tip placed thereon toward the respective guide channel proximal end opening, thus easing needle insertion into the guide channel. It is appreciated that the front faces can be contoured in other ways as well.
Also, as best seen in
The needle guide assembly 10 in the present embodiment is configured so as to be movable with respect to the ultrasound probe or other device with which it is connected.
It is appreciated that the number, size, shape, placement, etc. of the guide channels on the needle guide can vary from what is shown and described herein. Further, though all are similarly configured in the embodiment of
As shown, the rail 60 includes an L-shaped cross sectional shape to match the shape of the track 30 and to assist in maintaining engagement with the needle guide assembly 10, though it is appreciated that other rail shapes can also be employed.
With the needle guide assembly 10 attached to the probe cap 54 of the probe 50 via the track 30 and rail 60 engagement described above and as shown in
Thus, in the configuration shown in
Thus, during an ultrasound imaging procedure, a clinician can observe an image produced by the ultrasound probe of an intended subcutaneous target, such as a vein, when the probe is placed against the skin of the patient. Once the target is imaged by the probe, the clinician can inspect the image and determine or observe the depth of the target under the skin. The clinician can then laterally slide the needle guide body along the probe rail 60 until the guide channel 20A-20C that is marked with a depth corresponding to the depth of the target is aligned with the center of the probe, indicated by the arrow 66 on the probe head 56. Note that the needle guide body 12 is maintained in the selected position via engagement of the nub 34 in the track 30 (
If a deeper or shallower insertion angle is desired in order to access a deeper or shallower target, respectively, the needle guide assembly 10 can be laterally slid so that the guide channel having the desired target interception depth as marked on the front face 22A-22C is centered with the probe arrow 66. A needle or other suitable elongate instrument can then be inserted through the guide channel and into the patient's skin while the probe 50 is held in place against the skin to continue imaging the target. This is illustrated in
As described above, each guide channel 20A-20C includes a slot defined by the longitudinal opening 42 between the guide channel arms 40 (
As was mentioned, the needle guide assembly 10 can include guide channels defining other needle insertion angles and corresponding image plane interception depths. One example of this is shown in
In greater detail, the platform 114 is shaped such that each guide channel 120 defines a unique needle insertion angle for a needle disposed therein. As with the needle guide assembly of
Embodiments of the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, not restrictive. The scope of the embodiments is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Claims
1. A needle guide assembly, comprising:
- a needle guide body configured to at least indirectly and removably attach to an image producing device; and
- at least first and second elongate guide channels defined by the body, each guide channel defining a unique insertion angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the image producing device, wherein each guide channel is configured to receive needles of differing gauges.
2. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each guide channel includes two compliant arms that together define an elongate volume into which the needle is inserted, each arm being movable upon needle insertion to increase size of the volume when necessary to enable passage of the needle.
3. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each arm of each guide channel includes a notch to facilitate compliant expansion of the elongate volume of the respective guide channel, and wherein a longitudinal slot is defined between the arms of each guide channel to enable a needle to be removed from the guide channel after needle insertion into a body of a patient.
4. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the image producing device includes an ultrasound probe of an ultrasound imaging system, the needle guide assembly being slidably attachable to a fixture on the probe.
5. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the image producing device includes an ultrasound probe of an ultrasound imaging system, the needle guide assembly being slidably attachable to a cap that is removably attached to a head portion of the probe.
6. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a contoured front face is disposed adjacent each guide channel and wherein a proximal portion of each guide channel extends proximally beyond the respective front face.
7. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 1, further including first, second, and third guide channels arranged in one of a linear and an arcuate pattern on the needle guide body.
8. A needle guide assembly, comprising:
- a needle guide body configured to at least indirectly and removably attach to an ultrasound probe, the body defining a plurality of stepped platforms; and
- a guide channel included on each platform such that each guide channel is disposed a unique distance away from the probe and such that a needle disposed in each guide channel intersects an image plane of the probe at a different subcutaneous distance from the skin surface of a patient.
9. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein each guide channel further defines a unique angle with respect to the other guide channels.
10. The needle guide as defined in claim 8, wherein the guide channels are disposed parallel to one another.
11. A needle guide assembly, comprising:
- a body configured to at least indirectly attach to an ultrasound probe;
- a platform attached to the body so as to be selectively movable in an arcuate pattern; and
- a guide channel included on the platform, an insertion angle of the guide channel with respect to the skin of a patient being selectable via movement of the platform.
12. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the platform is slidably disposed along at least one rail of the body.
13. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the platform includes a notched arm that is slidably disposed between first and second arcuate rails of the body.
14. The needle guide assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the platform is releasably lockable in a desired position.
15. The needle guide as defined in claim 11, wherein the guide channel can define an insertion angle with the skin of the patient of between about 1 degree and about 90 degrees.
16. A method for inserting a needle into the body of a patient using a needle guide assembly, the needle guide assembly comprising a needle guide body movably and at least indirectly attached to an ultrasound probe, the needle guide including a plurality of guide channels that each define a unique needle insertion angle, the method comprising:
- ultrasonically imaging a subcutaneous target in the body of the patient using the probe;
- slidably adjusting as needed the needle guide assembly to place in a usable position a desired one of the guide channels; and
- inserting a needle through the desired guide channel and into the patient toward the subcutaneous target, the guide channel being compliant so as to accept needles of multiple gauge sizes.
17. The method for inserting as defined in claim 16, wherein inserting the needle further includes enabling the distal tip of the needle to be guided to a proximal end of the desired guide channel via contact with a contoured front face adjacent the desired guide channel.
18. An ultrasound imaging system, comprising:
- an ultrasound probe; and
- a needle guide assembly removably and at least indirectly attachable to the probe, the needle guide assembly comprising: a needle guide body that is slidable with respect to the probe; and at least first and second elongate guide channels defined by the needle guide body, each guide channel defining a unique needle insertion angle, wherein a face portion proximate a proximal end of each guide channel is contoured so as to direct a tip of a needle into the respective guide channel.
19. The system as defined in claim 18, further comprising a cap removably attachable to a head portion of the probe, the cap including a fixture to which the needle guide assembly is removably and slidably attached.
20. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the fixture includes an L-shaped rail that is slidably received within a corresponding track included on the needle guide body.
21. The system as defined in claim 20, wherein the needle guide body defines first, second, and third guide channels and wherein each guide channel is compliant so as to accept therein needles of differing gauges.
22. The system as defined in claim 21, wherein the face portion of each guide channel is angled according to the needle insertion angle of the respective guide channel and wherein the contour of each face is concavely shaped.
23. The system as defined in claim 22, wherein the probe cap and needle guide assembly are disposed before use in a sterile tray, and wherein a nub and detent arrangement is included on the rail and the track to enable the needle guide assembly to be secured in a selected position with respect to the probe.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2011
Publication Date: Jun 28, 2012
Patent Grant number: 9974516
Applicant: C. R. Bard. Inc. (Murray Hill, NJ)
Inventors: Amir Orome (Sandy, UT), Eric W. Lindekugel (Salt Lake City, UT), Paul D. Morgan (Draper, UT), Matthew W. Bown (West Bountiful, UT)
Application Number: 13/335,587
International Classification: A61B 8/00 (20060101);